March 26, 2024
Summary Upper level high pressure is currently building eastward from the eastern Pacific Ocean into the western US. A drier northwest flow is moving in aloft and will mix out the residual cloud cover left over from the weekend storm. As the high takes over, temperatures will warm accordingly and will rise into the mid 70s Wednesday afternoon. A low will drop southward along the northern California coast Wednesday night and Thursday, spreading light showers over the northern half of California. Showers will spread south as far as Fresno County. Models show the system’s dynamics weakening rapidly so measurable precipitation will stay north of Fresno County. A much stronger low will drop southward Friday through Sunday. Models indicate this may be a much stronger winter type storm with possible significant precipitation for the valley floor and heavy snow above 5,000 feet in the mountains. The low is forecast to hug the coastline, pinwheeling bands of precipitation inland from time to time. Surface models also indicate a strong surface low west of San Francisco Friday night through Saturday night, possibly leading to some strong, gusty winds in the south valley and along the west side any time from late Friday through Saturday.
Forecast Becoming mostly clear today through Wednesday. Increasing cloudiness Wednesday night leading to a chance of light showers mainly later Wednesday night through Thursday morning. increasing cloudiness again Friday leading to a chance of rain mainly from Fresno County north. Rain becoming likely at times Friday night through Saturday night. a chance of showers Sunday through Sunday night. mostly to partly cloudy Monday through Monday night. becoming mostly clear Tuesday.
Short Term:
| Madera 68/40/73/48/69 | Reedley 69/41/73/48/70 | Dinuba 69/40/73/49/70 |
| Porterville 70/42/74/50/70 | Lindsay 69/39/73/47/69 | Delano 69/45/74/49/71 |
| Bakersfield 68/46/75/51/71 | Taft 62/47/70/51/64 | Arvin 69/44/74/50/71 |
| Lamont 70/44/74/50/71 | Pixley 69/42/73/48/69 | Tulare 68/41/72/47/68 |
| Woodlake 69/41/73/48/69 | Hanford 69/41/74/50/70 | Orosi 69/40/72/48/68 |
Seven Day Forecast
| Friday PM rain 45/69 | Saturday Periods of showers 47/66 | Sunday Chance of showers 45/63 | Monday Mostly cloudy 43/66 | Tuesday Mostly clear 45/68 |
Two Week Forecast: April 2 through April 8: This model shows a rather robust flow into California. Energy from the northeast Pacific moves into California from time to time. The chance of rain is relatively high during this period with below average temperatures.
Thirty Day Report: If this model has much credence, rainfall will remain above average, especially in northern and central California, stretching into the interior west. Temperatures however, look to be marginally below average.
Ninety Day Report: This model indicates near to marginally above average rainfall over the next three months. Equal chances are given for temperatures being above or below average.
Winds: Winds will continue to be mainly out of the northwest at 5 to 12 mph through Tuesday night. winds Friday could potentially become strong and gusty in the south valley and along the west side. A strong surface low shows up west of San Francisco with considerably higher pressure over the Great Basin and southern California. This could set the stage for gusty east to southeast winds in the typical trouble spots in kern County. We’ll continue to monitor latest surface charts and tweak this forecast moving forward.
Rain: Dry weather will continue through Wednesday. There is a chance of light showers, mainly from Fresno County north Wednesday night and early Thursday. More importantly is a much stronger system which will begin to affect central California Friday. The chance of rain will begin to increase Friday night from Fresno County north. Periods of rain will continue Saturday night with a chance of showers Sunday through Sunday night. dry weather finally returns Monday and Tuesday. This may turn out to be a major winter type storm with as much as one half to one inch on the valley floor between Friday night and Sunday night. thunderstorms will also be possible Saturday which could produce locally heavy amounts.
Mid afternoon dew points: Mid to upper 40s. Kern: Mid to upper 40s
ET for the past seven days: Stratford, 1.00, Parlier, .96, Arvin .97, Delano .93.
Soil temperatures: Stratford 57, Parlier 61, Arvin NA, Delano 62
Average Temperatures: 69/45, Record Temperatures: 87/34
Heating Degree Days Season. 1671 -539 varies widely from location to location. courtesy of the NWS
Precipitation: Seasonal total for Fresno 7.63, Monthly 1.47
Precipitation for Bakersfield: Season: 5.71, Monthly: .88
Average Temperature this Month 56.9 +.0.7 taken at NWS Hanford.
Water year season is from October 1st through September 30.
Chilling Hours November 1st through February 28: Parlier, 793 Arvin, 692 Belridge, 690 Shafter, 741 Stratford, 784 Delano 783. Courtesy UC Davis
Sunrise, 6:51. Sunset, 7:17, hours of daylight, 12:24
NA=Not available
Yesterday’s Weather:
MCE : Merced 153 : DH1700 / 66 / 43 / 0.00 /
MAE : Madera 253 : DH1700 / 66 / 42 / 0.00 /
FAT : Fresno Airport 333 : DH1700 / 65 / 47 / 0.00 /
HJO : Hanford Airport 242 : DH1700 / 67 / 47 / 0.00 /
NLC : Lemoore Naval AS 234 : DH1700 / 68 / 38 / T /
BFL : Bakersfield Airport 496 : DH1700 / 64 / 46 / 0.15 /
VIS : Visalia Airport 292 : DH1700 / 65 / 45 / M /
ATEC1 : Avenal 787 : DHM / M / M / M /
PTV : Porterville Airport 442 : DH1700 / 65 / 43 / 0.18 /
TFTC1 : Taft 759 : DH1655 / 64 / 46 / 0.00 /
LOSC1 : Los Banos 120 : DH1600 / M / 44 / M /
Rainfall: 24hr 2024 % l.y. % ave Yearly ave
STOCKTON 0.00 11.39 101 21.76 194 11.24 13.45
MODESTO 0.00 14.41 143 18.65 185 10.09 12.27
MERCED 0.00 12.61 131 19.22 200 9.61 11.80
MADERA 0.00 8.01 90 10.20 115 8.87 10.79
FRESNO 0.00 7.63 86 17.09 193 8.86 10.99
HANFORD 0.00 6.68 101 13.72 207 6.64 8.13
BAKERSFIELD T 5.71 110 9.29 178 5.21 6.36
BISHOP 0.00 4.36 114 13.62 357 3.82 4.84
DEATH VALLEY NP 0.00 2.60 164 1.06 67 1.59 2.20
SALINAS T 11.86 110 13.14 122 10.75 12.58
PASO ROBLES 0.00 15.03 140 19.75 185 10.70 12.15
SANTA MARIA 0.00 13.66 119 22.26 195 11.44 13.32